Nation

Man to hang for death of adopted daughter

Judgment day: Abdul Aziz being being led from court after sentencing in Johor Baru.

JOHOR BARU: He pulled his 12-year-old adopted daughter out of their flat, kicked her back and abdomen before throwing her to the floor.

For abusing and causing the death of Nur Jalilah Abdullah, the High Court here sentenced 44-year-old Abdul Aziz Abdullah to death.

Justice Abdul Halim Aman found the scrap metal collector guilty of committing murder at his flat at Blok 12 in Jalan Desa Mutiara 7, Taman Desa Mutiara, at 1pm on April 25, 2012.

The judge said the defence had failed to raise a reasonable doubt about the prosecution’s case.

After evaluating statements of 17 witnesses, including Abdul Aziz himself, he had no doubt about the involvement of the accused in the case, Justice Abdul Halim added.

Justice Abdul Halim described what Abdul Aziz did as “cruel and inhumane”.

He told Abdul Aziz: “What you have done is truly unforgivable. Your actions were inhumane as the victim and her siblings were under your care.

“It is heartbreaking what the accused had done to the victim, causing her to suffer so much pain and physical abuse,” he said before handing down judgment.

Nur Jalilah had been staying for a year under the care of Abdul Aziz prior to her death. She and three of her siblings were placed under the care of Abdul Aziz as their mother is serving a prison sentence.

They were given food once a day by their adopted father. Nur Jalilah had a fragile body as she suffered from a condition that made her always very hungry.

Abdul Aziz was found guilty under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder with intent, which carries a mandatory death sentence upon conviction.